Whether a consumer buys retail cold foods or receives a direct-to-consumer (DTC) box of perishable goods on their doorstep, both scenarios leave customers with the burden of packaging disposal. Many environmentally conscious companies along the cold chain see this as an opportunity to minimize, or even eliminate post-consumer packaging waste, through recyclable materials and new products that biodegrade or are compostable.
We spoke with three brands making an effort to evolve their eco-friendly packaging to find out how they balance cost control and conscience: Yasso, makers of Greek yogurt bars sold in stores and DTC; Wildgrain, a DTC startup shipping frozen artisan breads, pastries and pastas; and produce powerhouse Nature Fresh Farms.